ONE of the most famous paintings of the Second World War symbolising the part women factory workers played in Britain's victory returned to Newport after 63 years.

The picture of Newport armaments worker Ruby Loftus, who lived with her family in Alway, was painted by Dame Laura Knight during 1943.

"The picture of a woman working at her lathe is one of the great pictures of the war," said Roger Cucksey, Newport's keeper of art, who has campaigned for the picture to be shown in Newport.

"Ruby Loftus was a phenomenon on the lathe who could turn gun parts faster and with greater accuracy than any other man or woman.

"In 1943 Dame Laura Knight, then one of the best-known artists in Britain, came to Newport to paint Ruby, who became the centre of national attention. After the war Ruby and her husband, who had fought in North Africa, emigrated to Canada, where she died just before I could make contact with her in 2004."

An enigmatic film shot by the government's wartime film unit has also been linked with Ruby's story.

"The film shot for propaganda purposes was merely described on the film canister as being in the West of England'. In fact it was of the arms factory in Corporation Road, where Ruby worked alongside 1,200 other women making Bofors guns," Mr Cucksey added.

"We have also managed to trace about 20 ladies still living in the Newport area who worked at the factory, some of whom remember seeing this picture being painted. We now have a treasure trove of information about the Royal Ordnance Factory and its women workers."

The picture is to remain at Newport's Museum and Art Gallery until December.